Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Here's the newest tape from Chi-Town intellectuals Kidz in the Hall, Geniuses Need Love Too. Though we've heard some of these tracks before, the new ones will suffice until The In Crowd drops in April. Enjoy:

Here's the official video for Talib Kweli's Just Blaze-produced heater "Hostile Gospel Pt. 1 (Deliver Us)" from Eardrum. Shot entirely in Nigeria, these are some powerful visuals for an even more powerful song. Shouts to herfection for this, I see you, girl!

Next up is a great version of the remix to "Hey Mama" that Kanye West performed a couple weeks ago at the Grammys. Off that Glow in the Dark Mixtape. I'll be back to talk about Kidz in the Halls' newest mixtape Geniuses Need Love Too. 'Til then, I'm ghost.

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Big ups to all my readers out there, here's my first TV article for the Inside Beat - a review of this season of The Wire on HBO. Obviously I had space limitations, so I didn't say all that I wanted to about this great show but I'm pretty satisfied with how it came out. Enjoy:

(Baltimore Mayor Tommy Carcetti)

(SPOILER ALERT)

The stakes are higher than ever in the fifth and final season of HBO's suspenseful crime drama "The Wire." Written by ex-Baltimore Sun police reporter David Simon, the series reflects the intricate interrelations between the Baltimore streets, the police bureau, the investigative detective unit, city hall, and now the metropolitan paper with significant sociological undertones revealing real-life truths of crime and corruption.

The show adds a new dimension to the familiar cops-and-robbers quarrels this season- the media and the role of journalism in the community. Viewers are introduced to a newspaper based on The Baltimore Sun and its newsroom of personnel, most notably City Editor Augustus "Gus" Haynes (Clark Johnson, "Homicide: Life on the Street") and reporter Scott Templeton (Tom McCarthy, Flags Of Our Fathers), to understand the media's social responsibility plus how the paper decides what to cover.

Common themes of deception, territorial conflict, and institutional deficiencies are evident throughout the first six episodes of Season Five. The show has a morbid, serious portrayal of the lies and betrayal that afflict all levels of city class structure.

Every episode is defined by its complex array of characters, chiefly the drug players and the police force out to lock them up. West Baltimore drug operation the Stanfield Organization, headed by Marlo Stanfield (Jamie Hector, "Oz"), has run Baltimore's streets since Avon Barksdale's business but city authorities have it under heavy surveillance.

Earlier this season, budget cuts from Mayor Thomas "Tommy" Carcetti (Aiden Gillen, Shanghai Knights) sent alcohol-loving detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic West, 300) back to homicide and brought police morale down as a whole. In retaliation, McNulty plants red ribbons on homeless murder victims to fake the work of a serial killer as an attempt to get attention from his boss and link the homicides to Marlo.

Since then, a myriad of storylines have taken place. Marlo asks Baltimore drug co-op leader "Proposition" Joe Stewart for help laundering money and pursues a relationship with Greek drug lords behind Prop Joe's back. Marlo shows his obsession with power and respect as he tries to lure enemy stick-up artist Omar Little out of retirement by murdering Omar's mentor in addition to having his henchmen, Chris Partlow, kill Prop Joe before he goes on vacation.

Shake-ups in the police force rattle city politics and Marlo's phone number is intercepted by an ex-investigator, giving detectives reason to wiretap the young drug lord after Templeton stages a phone call with Marlo. McNulty's faux serial killer targeting the homeless story is gaining momentum, Omar calls out Marlo, and the media is gaining national attention due to Templeton's manufactured story.

With four more episodes after this past Sunday's "The Dickensian Aspect," "The Wire" is approaching a dramatic climax, and the media will capture it all.

Monday, February 11, 2008

Ah, the Grammy's. Though I don't completely agree with the nominations or picks, I can enjoy this award show for what it is. Plus, I had to cover it for the Inside Beat anyway, so why not share my thoughts with you guys? Here's a serious rundown of the night's events:

8:17 - Morris Day and the original members of The Time energize disco-style, combining with Rihanna.Sporting a tan, feathery top and skirt combo, she performs electronic renditions of hits “Umbrella” and “Don’t Stop The Music.”

8:23 – Tom Hanks present Canadian rockers The Band with Lifetime Achievement Award recipients and introduce a trippy Cirque du Soleil interpretation of Across the Universe, a tribute to Brit legends The Beatles.

8:37 – My Grammy Moment pits three YouTube musicians, two violinists and an upright cellist, against one another to rock out with Foo Fighters later in the telecast. Now, please make those horrible noises stop.

8:45 – Kanye West emerges, with “MAMA” stenciled in his hair, on an otherworldly stage of erupting smoke, rocking a luminescent jacket/shades combo to perform “Stronger” with French dance-pop crew Daft Punk.Then, drenched in a solitary spotlight and backed by angelic images, ‘Yeezy performs a tear-wrenching a cappella to “Hey Mama,” receiving a standing ovation after singing “Last night I saw you in my dreams/ Now I can’t wait to go to sleep.”

8:52 – Looking strung-out and puffy-faced, Fergie tries to be taken seriously singing alongside John Legend’s ivory-tickling then announces the Love soundtrack as the Best Compilation Soundtrack Album. Ringo Starr and Beatles producer Sir George Martin take the podium to accept.

9:03 – Cher’s dress is hideous but she brings out a supple Beyonce in lime green booty-shorts.The modern songstress pays tribute to former divas before introducing a stiff but still spunky Tina Turner in a Tin-man sheer dress to perform a duet.

9:15 – Well-deserved Song of the Year award goes to Amy Winehouse for “Rehab.”

9:20 – Back to My Grammy Moment, goody. The winner is violinist Ann Marie Calhoun, who performs with the Foo Fighters outside the StapleCenter with an orchestra led by John Paul Jones of Led Zeppelin.Just for the record, Dave Grohl has the sweetest rock-star hair, period.

9:32 – South of the border comedy import George Lopez introduces Braid Paisley, who has an affinity for screaming wild, wild west style in between lyrics.Yee-ha!

9:37 –Chris Brown looks ridiculous in a Colonel Sanders white and red suite alongside Akon and Solange Knowles to present Best Rap Album to Kanye West for Graduation. That makes three, one for each album in his discography. Thankfully, the Grammy band halts its leave-the-stage music per ‘Ye’s request as he speaks about his late mother, Donda.

9:42 – The Queen Aretha Franklin and Bebe Winans, the dude with the fly black-and-white jacket, sing praises on a high-energy version of “Never Gonna Break My Faith”supported by a gospel choir.How ‘bout them trombonists.

10:11 – Twenty-five time Grammy winner Stevie Wonder honors Motown Records founder Berry Gordy then introduces a slammin’ Alicia Keys for an impressive rendition of “No One” with help from John Mayer.

10:18 – Ringo Starr announces that Vince Gill wins Best Country Album with These Days. “I just got an award given to me by a Beatle,” Gill said, “Have you had that happen yet, Kanye?” Ha, he’s got jokes.

10:24 – Jazz master Herbie Hancock and Chinese pianist Lang Lang interpret Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, known by most as the theme for United Airlines’ old campaign.

10:33 – Best Rap Collaboration goes to Rihanna and Sean “Jay-Z” Carter, even though it’s really an R&B song with an 8-bar rap verse from the Jigga Man.

10:40 – Live From London, it’s Cuba Gooding, Jr.!No, he just (finally) introduces the sexy weirdo that is Amy Winehouse to sing – then stumble. Unable to be in the States due to visa complications, Winehouse’s voice is booming.

10:47 – Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole presents Doris Day with a Lifetime Achievement Award.Then, the Record of the Year goes to… Amy Winehouse for “Rehab!”What a presence from the up-and-coming U.K. bad girl this year.

10:58 – President and CEO of the Recording Academy Neil Portnow puts on a little PR campaign, then jazz prodigy Eldar performs a song from the late pianist Oscar Peterson, who passed away around Christmas.

11:02 – A run-down of all the musicians who passed this year, including Max Roach, Luciano Pavarotti, Dan Fogelberg, Pimp C, and Ike Turner then Josh Groban and Andrea Bocelli pay tribute to Pavarotti.

11:24 – “Professor” will.i.am pretentiously schools the crowd and viewers to the “importance” of the Grammy’s, finishing with a pinpoint freestyle.

11:26 – Usher and Quincy Jones appear on stage for the moment of truth, Album of the Year.And the winner is… Herbie Hancock for his JoniMitchelltributeRiver: The Joni Letters?! Well at least Kanye, Amy, the guys from Foo and Mr. Gill, lost to a true jazz great, an artist in a uniquely American genre that hasn’t won in eons.

11:30 – Recap time: Amy Winehouse wins out with 5, Kanye West gets 4, 3 go to gospel singer Karen Clark-Sheard and Garden State Boss Bruce Springsteen, and Herbie Hancock gets Album of the Year.It’s been real, until next year.

Friday, February 8, 2008

That's right, gamers. Rockstar has launched the official website for GTA IV with some nice videos and screen-shots to keep us patiently waiting for the April 29 release date. Here's a short video of some different characters, be sure to also check the ones on the site:

Thursday, February 7, 2008

Got some new tracks for your listening pleasure. The first is a grown and sexy jam, another is a rags-to-riches street dream, the next is industry commentary, then an icey tribute and finally we got FLAMES! Enjoy:

Monday, February 4, 2008

As the post-Super Bowl G-men victory celebration continues with tomorrow's parade in the city, the timing is impeccable for Re-Up Gang to put out their highly-anticipated We Got It 4 Cheap, Vol. 3 The Spirit of Competition. The currently leaked version doesn't have DJ Drama yapping all over it, which I personally prefer to keep it strictly Pusha T, Malice, Ab-Liva & Sandman over familiar beats. Here are some of my standout tracks after one listen:

Good Morning

Scenario 2008

Roc Boys

Real Niggas

Cry Now

[it's complicated, this life i leadthe cars, the whores are beautiful but all i needis focus, cuz the latter is the ladder to successthat i climb, i stair-step to the top, i'm complex]

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All material presented on this blog is strictly for promotional use only, the files are not hosted on my site but rather on third party servers. If you enjoy the music you hear, I highly encourage you go out and support the artist by purchasing their work. Any artist or label rep that would like me to take down a link, please contact me at my e-mail address. Have a good one, Grazie.